Compare towns
Foxborough vs Acton vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foxborough has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Walpole has the most homeowners (83.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Foxborough | Acton | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,615Lowest |
24,155 |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Walpole and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
| Walpole and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Foxborough and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974Lowest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #138 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Acton-Boxborough | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.